Union Street Urban Orchard

As part of the London Festival of Architecture, an empty lot on Union Street will be transformed into an urban orchard, a collaboration between artists, architects, gardeners and scientists.

An escape within the city for Londoners — and a plain old escape for those of us living on the other side of the ocean — the orchard will be open to the public through September 19, 2010 when it will be dismantled and the plants will be donated to local estates and community gardens. The space features a timber garden designed by The Finnish Institute, a ping pong table made from a shipping container by Oliver Bishop Young and a Scrumping Shed for making cider. If you do happen to be in London, the orchard hosts a series of events through July 4, including workshops in cider making, bee keeping, sculpture, bird watching and guerilla gardening.